bmw e36 diesels are the spawn of satan, well apart from teh 2.5tds, but even then, I'v never ever seen a good one yet, always intergallatic milage and been chain smokd in for past decade :yuck:
bravo diesel if your after a fiat.
other choices, mmm could think of a few,
later peugoet 306 hdi (don't bother with earlier diesels, their good comparitably with similar age cars, but the newer age diesels are much much smoother, and they actually rev past 3.5k).
golf mk3 diesel, go for a very late N/P/R reg one, or failing that the 1.8 petrol.
seat AROSA. 1.4tdi same lump as lupo/polo, and can be remapped to circa 115-120, which is ample in one of them, stear the HELL clear of the SDI, 40(ish) bhp of noisy clattery van like rattling and smoke.
a van, pick anything with a merc/dub badge on it :yum: vw SWB t4 transporter with the 5cyl 2.4tdi is what i'm aiming for, can be remapped (if the head isn't already melted) to circa 140-150bhp from about 85. although they do need bigger injectors/fueling issues. but nothing an hour scouling th scrapheap can't yield.
and how the hell can your insurance STILL cost that much? must live in a tough bit of ncaslte
